10-year old from Stanley in half-marathon skate for Mental Health Awareness Week

12 May 2026 4

Image by Mariakray from Pixabay

A 10-year old from Stanley Village has taken to the ice to skate the distance of a half-marathon, doing laps of a Nottinghamshire ice centre as part of a sponsored event to raise money for charity and to mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2026.

Just 18-months ago, Thomas Beardall stepped on to the ice at the Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield for his first ever ice-skating session.

On Thursday 14th May, he returned to complete laps of the rink in aid of the Mental Health Foundation.

Thomas has been having regular lessons and is now competing in regional competitions. He wants to promote getting more boys into the world of figure skating, at this level, having acknowledged that it is such a female dominated sport.

Proud Mum Victoria described Thomas as: “…a happy little boy and a confident speaker” about his life and hobbies.

Written by: Ian Perry

Ice Skating Mental Health Awareness Week Mental Health Foundation